Apparatus for brushing and polishing zipper chain

ABSTRACT

A brushing and polishing assembly for use in the manufacture of zipper chain. The assembly includes a body having a chain guide path and a number of brushing members disposed over the path to brush and polish exposed surfaces of the chain as it passes through the assembly.

United States Patent 8 N8 1 wm 05 B5 J d no .mm 1] 0 55 [.1.

[72] inventor Guido Perrella Montreal, Quebec, Canada [21 858,222

App], No. Filed July 7,1969 Division of Ser. No. 637,518.

May 10,1967. Pat. No. 3,482,301.

x m8 0 3 1/ 5 mm r? 03 HN 8 45 99 11 62 9 41 54 42 22 M m L O m 1 7w mm m l s um. An de m Hg e a PA 4 .3 47 1.1

Glasgow, Scotland Priority June 14, 1966 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-C, K. Moore At10meyCushman, Darby & Cushman Canada 962,900

ABSTRACT: A brushing and polishing assembly for use in the [54] APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING AND POLISHING f g manufacture of zipper chain. The assembly includes a body a rawmg having a chain guide path and a number of brushing members disposed over the path to brush and polish exposed surfaces of the chain as it passes through the assembly.

[52] U.S.. 15/21 D, 29/207 5 PATENTED AUG] 71971 SHEET 01 [1F SHEET 02 0F PATEN'TEU AUG] 7 1971 PATENTED we] H91;

SHEET 03 [1F PATENTED AUBI mm 3,599 .266

SHEET on HF 16 PATENTEU ms 1 715m SHEET 05 1F 16 FIG. 6

PATENTED AUG] 7 an SHEET 08 0F PATENTEU AUG] 7 as?! SHEET 08 0F PATENTEDAUGI'HH?! 3,599,266

sum near 16 FIG. l0

PATENTED mm m SHEET 11 0F '16 FIG. 52

PATENTED AUG] 7 1971 SHEET 12 OF PATENTEU mm 1 l97l 3 599.266

SHEET 13 [1F 16 PATENTED AUG! 1197:

SHEET 15 0F if 3,599,26 v 1 no; is is a section taken along the lines -15 of no. 14

and.'disclosingthe structural features of one of the brushing fasteners or zipper chains from flat wire andin particular to a machine which includes apparatus for performing all the operations necessary -to provide a finishedproduct, i.e. a 1

formed, sized and polished zipper chain.

In Canadian Pat. No. 661,442 of Apr. 6 1963 there is provided a zipper machine that was substantially simplified in nature compared to those at that time known to the trade. Notwithstanding the fact that the fastener element of each zipper chain is extremely small in nature, the older forming machines were extremely large in size and relatively bulky with the result that substantial-floor area was taken up in ii per-making'tactories. The invention of the above-mentioned Canadian patentprovided substantial improvement of such-machines in producing a devicethat was quite small and extremely fast .in production. The wire and tape feeds to .the' machine were automatic and the device produced a zipper 'chain ina high footage .to time ratio. However, after'the chain was made, i.e.

the tape and elements were secured together. the chain had to be sized and brushed or polished in separate operations- The present invention provides, in one aspect, B zipperchain-making device that is a further improvement over that i of the above-mentioned patent. Specifically, there are improvements by way of means for brushing and cleaning or polishing each external face of the zipper after it leaves a chamfering section of the machine. In accordance with one aspect 'of the present invention, a brushing and polishing assembly for the manufacture'of zipper chain consists of a body having a chain guide path therein; a plurality of brushing members positioned over the path adapted to brush and polish" theexposed surfaces of the zipper chain, each of the brushes rotating in a counterdirection with respect to each adjacent brush; and means for applying resilient pressure on the chain elements by the brushes. I

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which;

. FIG. 1' is a perspective view of the complete zipper-forming apparatus; I

.- FIG..2 is'a side elevation of the uppersection of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating in partial phantom line'the drive mechanismfor. the varioustdevices of the ap-' paratus; j 1

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the zipper-chaiwmaking device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the gapping device taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a further side elevation of the zipper-making device, partly sectioned to show the wire feed press and backward return mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along lines 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the die set assembly;

FIG. 10 is a top elevation view of the die assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sizing and chamfering unit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the chamfering unit shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top or plan view of the brushing unit showing the drive motor and bellcrank mechanism as well as the end pulley adjacent the winding spool apparatus as seen in side elevation in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a further top view of the brushing mechanism GENERAL ASSEMBLY Referring to FIGS. -1 and '2 of the drawings, the apparatus comprises, in its integral unit, a cabinet 1 having a control panel 2, a zipper-chainmanufacturing device 3; a sizing and charnfering'device 4; a brushing and polishing device 5 and spool-winding mechanism 6. There'is also included a supply roll 7 for the chain wire and a similar supply'for tape can be provided adjacent the upper end of the deviceso that the tape may be led into the zipper-chain-making device 3 as shown. The cabinet 1 also includes'a remote control panel 8 and a blower 9 for cooling thefzipper-making device 3 and for collecting dust from the brushing mechanism 5.

As previously mentioned, the brushing device 5, chamfering device 4 or zipper-making device 3 can also be used independently of one another'but in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, they will be described as being interrelated to provide a full production unit. i a i The wire 10 is drawn from a supply source 7 upwardly through aguide tube 12 and into thezipper-rn'aking' device 3 by way of a wire guide assembly 14 (FIG. 7). Simultaneously, a tape 16 is' fed from a supply source (not shown) into the zipper-making device 3 by way of a tape guide 18 shown in FIG. 3. Device 3 punches the chain elements from the wire and applies them onto the bead of thetape and the tape leaves the device 3 through a tape pressure cartridge 20, shown in FIG. 4. The chain then progresses over a guide arm 22 into the confines of the sizing and cha'mfering device and subsequently travels around guides 24 and 26 into the brushing device 5 and is finally wound onto the spool 6 as a finished product.

In view of the tension that maybeapplied to both the wire before it enters thechain-m'aking device'3 and also to the chain after it leaves the latter and progresses through the 'charnfering and brushing elements, means are provided to stop the machine at various stages if tension builds up to a dangerous level. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the wire guide tube 12' is secured to an arm 28 that is pivotally mounted to the apparatus cabinet at 30. The end of this am, adjacent the pivot 30, terminatesiadjacent. a limit switch 32having an actuating arm 34. If, for example,th'efsupply, spool 7 for the wire should become locked or in any way encounter sufficient friction to resist the feeding draw of the device 3, tension will be applied to the wire 10 as it passes through its guide tube 12 and, in so'doing, will draw the arm 28 downwardly until such time as the upper end of the arm 28 throws the actuating arm 34 of the limit switch 32 to shut off the machine. Spring 13 applies necessary tension to tube 12 as shown.

Ann 22 is connected to a block 35 pivotally mounted at 36. Also connected to the block 35 is one'end of'a rod 38 which is pivotally connected-at its other end to an arm 40, which in shown'in FIG. 13 but with the motor and protective cover turn is pivotally mounted to the cabinet as at 42. Arm 40 is slotted as at 44 to receive one end of an actuating arm 46 on a limit switch 48. It will be appreciated that, if the tension on the chain leaving the machine 3 reaches such a degree that the arm 22 is bent downwardly beyond the position shown at 220 in phantom line, the arm 38 and arm 40 will be pivoted to such a degree that the limit switch 48 will'be actuated by its arm 46 and the machine will be stopped. Limit switch 48 and the arms 38 and 22 deal with the tension applied to the chain between the chain-making apparatus 3 and the chamfering device 4.

- A still further limit switch mechanism is provided between the chamfering device 4 and the brushing mechanisms. It will be seen that chain guides 24 and 26 below the chamfering mechanism 4 are mounted on a horizontally disposed rod 50 which is mounted for pivotal movement at 52. A limit switch 54 is provided with an actuator 56. having an arm 58 which is adapted to be engaged by the horizontal rod 50. If tension on shown in FIG. 4. The above-described brake system provides a substantial improvement over that of the previous Canadian Pat. No. 661,442 as may be seen from a review of FIG. 7 of that patent.

Another improvement of Canadian Pat. No. 66l,442 that is worthy of note is the type of tape feed or drive. In the present proposal, it will be seen that the tape drive is external of the body 118, specifically on an extension of the body 1180. In the above-mentioned patent, the tape drive was internal of the frame machine which made it extremely difficult to apply regular maintenance or breakdown service. Moreover, the means of applying pressure to the tape in Canadian Pat. No. 661,442 (FIG. 5) was complicated and expensive, for example in that the arm 73 pivoted about a shaft 74 in response to pressure applied on the other end of the arm 73.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the tape feed shaft 122 is mounted for rotation in the body extension 118a by roller bearings 174 and 176. The inner or passage end of shaft 122 is knurled at 178 to apply a drawing pressure onto the tape T, as shown, and pressure is applied to the tape T by means of a pressure cartridge 180 mounted in .a housing 182 and surrounded by a coil spring 184. The outer end of the cartridge 180 is connected to a cammed handle 186 whereby tension can be applied or relieved. This cartridge structure is shown in side view in FIG. 7.

The wire feed shaft 120 is mounted for rotation in the body 118 by roller bearings 188 which may be lubricated from nipples 190 as shown in FIG. 4. A desired torque resistance must also be built into the wire feed shaft to prevent a rotation faster than is required. Therefore, the shaft 120 is provided with a two-plate clutch 192 mounted between a flange 194 of the casting of the main shaft and the body 118. Pressure on the clutch is effected by the other end of the shaft 120 and specifically by a pressure nut 196 which is thre'adably attached to the shaft 120 as at 198. The shoulder of the pressure nut 196 has an opposing surface in a pressure washer 200 that is positioned in a countersunk region of the body 118 and intermediate the surfaces of the washer 200 and the shoulder 196 are a plurality of pressurized Belleville washers 202. It will be appreciated that adjustment of the pressure nut 196 will draw the shaft inwardly by applying pressure through the Belleville washers and therefore increasing the amount of torque necessary to rotate the shaft 120. This pressure is transferred to the outer end or driven end of the shaft 120 by means of a pressure plug 204 which acts against bearings 206 through spherical washers 208 secured in place by a capscrew 210. It will be noted that the driven end of shaft 120 is formed with a circumferential groove 212, the purpose of which will be subsequently described.

Turning now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the drive end of the wire feed shaft 120 which includes the circumferential slot 212, is also provided with a plurality of teeth 214 whereby this shaft may be incrementally rotated through the reciprocal action of a driving blade 216 on one end of the wire feed pawl 134 that is driven by the eccentric 132 on the drive shaft 124. As previously mentioned, this driving force of the pawl 134 must overcome the tension applied to the shaft 120 by the Belleville springs 202 as well as by further spring means 218 as shown.

The tape feed pawl 138 that is driven by eccentric 136 is also provided with a blade 220 for incrementally rotating the tape feed shaft 122 by means of teeth 224 circumferentially placed on the protruding end thereof. Backlash or reversal of the shaft 122 is prevented by the blade 226 of a backfeed pawl 228 mounted on the body 118a. Pawl 228 and pawl 134 are interconnected by spring means 230.

The zipper chain may be manufactured in one continuous length or it may be desirable to manufacture the chain in lengths of say 6 inches with a 2 or 3 -inch gap between each chain. The tape, of course, would remain continuous. The present apparatus provides a gapping mechanism indicated generally at 232 in FIG. 3 and shown generally in FIG. 1 and in sectional detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The gapping device comprises front and rear body portions 234 and 236, respectively, secured together by capscrews 238 and this unified body is then secured to the body 118 of the zipper-making machine 3 by means of further capscrews 240.

Briefly, the gapping device carries a blade member 242 which cooperates with and rides in the slot 212 of the wire feed shaft 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the blade 242 is wound upon a spool 244 from whence it is fed into the gapping device 232. As shown in FIG. 5, the blade rides intermediate the front and rear bodies 234, 236 of the gapping device and rides on a key 246 extending the length of the guide. The blade is maintained in engagement with the key by a plurality of fingers 248 spaced throughout the length of the guide and these fingers are resiliently mounted on the ends of coil springs 250, as shown. Moreover, it will be seen from FIG. 6 that a plurality of setscrews 252 disposed intermediate each spring and finger 248 serves to press a ball member 254 against the side of the blade by means of a spring 256. The guide 232 is provided with a shaft 258 for operating the fingers 248 and this is accomplished by the inner ends of each spring 250 being disposed in slots 260 in the shaft as shown in FIG. 5. The outer terminal end of the shaft 258 is provided with a handle 262 connected to a collar 264 and the lower end of the collar is provided with a recess 266 adapted to receive therein the head 268 of a bolt 270, the bolt being resiliently pressed into engagement with the collar by means of a coil spring 272.

It will be apparent that, by swinging the handle 262 in an arc, the shaft 258, springs 250 and fingers 248 will be rotated so as to free the blade 242.

It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the blade 242 is provided with a low or normal elevation or height 274 and a raised portion 276. It will also be noted that the normal portion 274 corresponds in its height with the depth of the slot 212 in the wire feed 120 so that, during reciprocal action of the wire feed pawl 134 and the blade 216 thereof, the guide will be moved along one notch or tooth as is the notches on the driven end of the feed shaft 120. However, if a spacing is required between the chain elements of the zipper, for example 6-inch zippers, then a raised portion 276 will be inserted in the blade at 6-inch intervals and the length of the raised portion 276 will correspond with the distance between one zipper and the next, say 2 or 3 inches. As this portion 276 is engaged by the blade 216 of the pawl 234, blade 216 is then raised from engagement with the teeth 214 on the wire feed shaft. This therefore prevents rotation of the latter and wire is no longer fed into the device although the tape feed is constant through the action of the pawl 138 and its blade on the tape feed shaft 122. After the raised portion 276 of the blade is fed through the guide and the guide outlet 242a, and the height of the blade returns to the normal portion 274, then the blade 216 will again engage the teeth 214 to institute further rotation of the wire feed shaft 120.

TOOL AND DIE SET In FIG. 3, it will be seen that the body 118 of the chain-malting machine has secured to its upper surface a tool seat 178 and a die set clamp 280. The die set assembly is shown in detail in FIG. 9 in section and in FIG. 10 in plan view while the tool seat may be seen in section in FIG. 7 of the drawings. As shown in FIG. 9, the die block 282 includes a bridge member 284 which extends downwardly into the confines of the device 3 as shown in peeked line in FIG. 3. This constitutes the inlet into the die block 282 of the chain wire which enters via a chain wire guide 286 shown in FIG. 7. At this point, it is controlled by a wire feed press 288 which in construction, is not unlike the tape pressure cartridge 180 shown in FIG. 5. The feed press 288 includes a pressurized wheel 290 cooperating with a knurled wheel 292. Tension may be applied or released through handle 294 which is cammed onto one end of a shaft 296 resiliently mounted by spring 298.

The tool seat assembly 178 includes an opening 300 by means of which a male tool may receive adjustment from a pin 

1. In the manufacture of zipper chain, a brushing and polishing assembly comprising a body having a chain guide path therein; a plurality of brushing members positioned over said path adapted to brush and polish the exposed surfaces of said zipper chain; each said brush rotatinG in a counterdirection with respect to each adjacent brush; each brush comprising two sections, a first section including a shaft mounted for rotation in a drive box and a second section including a further shaft spaced from said first shaft beyond the confines of said drive box, said further shaft including the mounting of said brush thereon above said guide path; a flexible tube interconnecting the adjacent terminal ends of said first and second shafts; and a spring member interconnecting said sections and being so disposed as to apply a downward pressure of said brush onto said chain elements. 